Comcast spent $1.7 billion in measured media last year, up 9.7% over 2011, making it second only to Procter & Gamble as an advertiser, according to Kantar Media. One reason for its rise from 50th place only five years ago: Comcast's acquisition of NBCUniversal has it competing on several fronts, with Universal Studios vying in the heavy-spending movie sector and its Xfinity cable service going up against telecoms such as Verizon. GM, AT&T and L'Oreal rounded out the top five.